The present invention relates to engagement or transfer of an image forming substance within a reservoir of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may include an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device.
In some image forming substance cartridges, an image forming substance sump or reservoir may be used to retain the image forming substance until the image forming substance may be required by the developer system. Inside of the image forming substance sump may be an agitating device, such as a paddle, to agitate and aid in the removal of image forming substance from the sump. In some cases, however, the agitating device may not be capable of reaching a substantial portion of the interior surface of the sump, which may be due, for example, to the geometry of the cartridge or due to poor image forming substance flow properties.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for engaging image forming material in a reservoir in an image forming apparatus. The reservoir may include a paddle for engaging the image forming material or the interior surfaces of the reservoir. The paddle may include an axially elongated section capable of rotating in the reservoir. The paddle may also include another component which may similarly engage with the image forming material or with an interior surface in the reservoir. The reservoir may assume any shape.
Features and advantages of the present invention are set forth herein by description of embodiments consistent with the present invention, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention relates to engagement or transfer of an image forming substance within a reservoir of an image forming apparatus. This may comprise a device such as a paddle that may aid in the removal of an image forming substance such as toner, ink or other developing agents from a sump within a cartridge. The paddle may include a component which engages the image forming substance in the cartridge. The cartridge may be utilized in an image forming apparatus which may include an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device.
Illustrated in
A paddle 118 in the first sump 112 may be used to move the image forming substance to the metering rotor 116. In some cases the first sump 112 geometry may be dictated by other components in or surrounding the supply cartridge. For example, the first sump 112 may be arranged above the second sump or the interior surface of the first sump may include an irregular geometry. Accordingly, the paddle 118 may not be able to reach the entire interior surface of the first sump 112, in the radial and/or axial dimensions. When the image forming substance has relatively poor flow properties, the paddle 118 may not be able to remove substantially all of the image forming substance from the first sump 112.
Accordingly, in one exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device and method for engaging image forming substance in a cartridge. Referring to
The component may also be composed of a compliant polymer material, as illustrated in
The component may also have features extending in the axial direction “A” from the component, as illustrated in
It can therefore be appreciated that the paddle described herein may extend the ability of the paddle to extend its reach into the reservoir. The paddle may therefore more effectively engage with image forming substance in both a radial and axial direction within the reservoir. The foregoing description is provided to illustrate and explain the present invention. However, the description hereinabove should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention set forth in the claims appended here to.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070041749 A1 | Feb 2007 | US |